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The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord. From our first reading, Genesis 15, this passage reminds me of a quote from Abraham Lincoln. “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” Though we are anxious about the dramatic price increase for gas, and inflation in general affecting the security of our households, yet it is the tragedy of war, of unbridled power, and the repeated violence against innocent men, women and children that seems to define or deride our human accomplishments. Could there be truth in Lincoln’s observation, the same man who observed, Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.” Within the complexities of this world and the shadow of violence that seems to obscure the light and grace of our Creator we might consider the wonder and awe that unfolds before us each day; succinctly providing us the distraction we need to again sustain our faith in a God who alone determines the course of all creation, and who desires to impart unconditional love despite our human travails. Setting aside for a moment the unsettling world events and our local concerns and circumstances, may we consider what Abram discovered centuries ago about the imminence of our Creator who has remained immutable, mysterious, and so very present to our earthly existence. “Through our science we have created magnificent spacecrafts and telescopes to explore the night and the light and the half light. We have made visible things that are invisible to the unaided eye. We have brought the dreamy heavens down to Earth, held them in the mind's eye. . . .Who can look at these images and not be transformed? The heavens declare God's glory. Chet Raymo, author and professor of physics, goes on to remind us of how such magnificence is ours at any given time, learned or not learned, possessing or not possessing: “It is the nature of God to reside in mystery—ineluctable, inexhaustible mystery. We do not need to understand the cabala of mathematical physics to apprehend the ‘mysterium tremendum.’ We need only look out the window.” Possibly why Jesus led the three apostles to the mountain top revealing the power and presence of God, as our Gospel reading describes. Why indeed Jesus orchestrated his last earthly appearance to guide the apostles sights and minds heavenward as he ascended. Despite the tragedies that mark human existence here on earth, if we can spare just a moment to look beyond, to bring ourselves to the relevance and existence of a God defined by the mysterious, magnificent universe surrounding us, we can then bolster our faith in a Creator who is present within all the calamity and glory here on earth. Too often the seriousness of life and the events that causes us alarm and concern limits our faith in our God who has been, is, and will always be in control. My old rector, Fr. Kevin Seasoltz, God rest his soul, always reminded us seminarians to quit “naval gazing.” In Peter’s words from our gospel passage, “It is good that we are here.” In this time, during the season of Lent, facing circumstances beyond our control and blessings we could not anticipate, it is good we are here as people of faith, willing to bring the face of Christ to others and allow such grace to heal our own doubts. God’s voice reminds us again and again, “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” Lest we have forgotten those words Jesus promised to each human life, regardless of the times, “And know that I am with you always; yes, until the end of time.”
“O Lord, spare me from the spirit of apathy and meddling, of idle chatter and love of power. Grant to me, the spirit of integrity and humility, of patience and love; and grant me, your servant, the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge others.” (St. Ephram). May the discipline and spirit of your resolutions, fasting and prayer, Almsgiving too, continue to guide your Lenten journey. With daylight savings time upon us and St. Patrick’s Day approaching us, WB Yeats gives us perspective: “Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.”
God Bless, Fr Tim
FYI: May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
